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Three men accused of coming to Chicago to allegedly attack local landmarks during the NATO Summit appeared in a Cook County courtroom Tuesday morning. Phil Rogers reports. (Published Tuesday, May 22, 2012)

An attorney for three men brought up on terrorism charges complained that his clients were kept in isolation since their arrest last week, calling it cruel and unusual punishment.

"They have nothing to read. They have no writing material. It's a kind of a sensory deprivation for them," defense attorney Michael Deutch said after Tuesday's hearing.

Brian Church, 22 of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Jared Chase, 27 of Miami; and Brent Vincent Betterly, 24 of Oakland Park, Fla. were arrested in a raid late Wednesday night. They're charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, possession of an explosive or incendiary device and providing material support and are each being held on $1.5 million bond.

A sheriff's department spokesman said three men had been in isolation at the hospital for observation but would be moved to the general population later Tuesday.

Police, Protesters Clash at Michigan & Cermak

A mostly peaceful demonstration that began at Grant Park's Petrillo band shell ended with a violent clash at 22nd and Michigan Avenue just outside McCormick place at around 4:45 p.m.

(Published Sunday, May 20, 2012)

The attorneys further complained that they are not receiving any information about the charges their clients are facing, and suggest the city needed the case.

"I don't know how the mayor just gets carte blanche to turn this city into a police state over the weekend, because we are fearful," defense attorney Thomas Durkin said.

Defense attorneys said that what police called a bomb plot, and what the suspects said was home-brewing of beer, was pure fiction. They said it was an operation drafted in advance to justify the city's police response to the protests planned for this past weekend's NATO summit.

Hundreds Rally at Grant Park

The summit's largest rally was an anti-war demonstration at the Petrillo Bandshell in Grant Park, where protesters battled 90 degree-plus heat to get their message out to anyone who would listen. Christian Farr reports.

(Published Monday, May 21, 2012)

The three are self-proclaimed anarchists, and prosecutors said Church was the ring leader of the group.